Device for handling a rocket motor



May 25, 1965 N. KAMALIAN DEVICE FOR HANDLING A nocxnr MOTOR 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1963 INVENTOR. NEUBAR KAMALIAN rill If MWalwm O BY 6/141 qt)? ZJT TORNEYS M y 1965 N. KAMALIAN DEVICE FORHANDLING A ROCKET MOTOR 3 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed March 26, 1963 INVENTORNEUBAR KAMALIAN BYf ,f 0 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 8 Claims. (Cl.263-6) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Governmentof the United States of America for governmental purposes without thepayment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a device for handling a rocket motorand more particularly to a device for handling a rocket motor during thestages of construction thereof.

One of the most perplexing problems to those involved in theconstruction of large rocket motors has been the handling of the motorsduring various phases of construction thereof. With the requirement ofhigh thrust rocket motors which will have the capability of carryinglarge payloads to the moon and planets the problem of handling thetremendous weight of the motor during casting and curing has come to theforeground. Some requirements have been as high as 100 million pounds ofthrust which calls upon construction facilities and methods far beyondthose presently known. 7 t

The present invention has the capabilities of constructing rocket motorsof practically unlimited size by handling the rocket motor inconjunction with a container. Construction of the rocket motor iscommenced by placing the casing of the rocket motor on a bed of rollersand rolling the easing into the container. Once thecasing is in thecontainer, retainer means within the container are used to hold thecasing in place and the container is sealed and rolled down to a body ofwater. Once in the body of water the container with the casing isfloated and towed to a flooded drydock where the container is freed froma towing vehicle and placed in a vertical position. Water within thedrydock is then withdrawn, allowing the container to come to rest on itsendin the upright position within the drydock. A top cover of thecontainer is then removed and the casing is readied for casting andcuring the propellant required for the motor. The propellant can beeasily poured into the rocket casing in the upright position. After thepropellant is poured the container is sealed and means within thecontainer applies heat to the propellant and rotates the motor to ensureuniform heat distribution. After casting and curing, the rocket motorcan then be transcended back to a land position in a proceduresubstantially reverse to that described in getting it to the drydock.Accordingly, the present invention takes the rocket casing from a landposition, utilizes water in positioning the casing for casting andcuring the propel lant and then returns the rocket motor casing withrocket propellant via water to land and delivers the rocket motorwithout the necessity of handling the rocket motor with the normalimplements such as cranes and derricks. Accordingly, the inventionprevents the rocket motor and especially the propellant grain from beingsubjected to localized or high stress concentrations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for handling-a rocket motor.

Another object is to provide a device for handling a large rocket motorover 20 feet in diameter and capable of producing over 3 million poundsof thrust during the various stages of construction thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device fortranscending a large casing of a rocket motor from a horizontal positionto a vertical position, for casting and curing a propellant within thecasing and then returning 3,185,454 Patented May 25, 1965 the rocketcasing with propellant to a horizontal position.

Still another object is to provide a container which will accept a largecasing of a rocket motor and enable casting and curing of propellantwithin the casing without handling the casing with cranes and derricks.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method forconstructing a rocket motor.

A still further object is to provide a method for constructing a rocketmotor without handling the motor with derricks and cranes during theconstruction phases thereof.

A still further object is to provide a device for constructing a rocketmotor without subjecting the rocket motor or its propellant grains tolocalized or high stress concentrations.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same be comes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric View of the rocket motor partially removed fromthe container.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal schematic view of the container partially incross-section with a rocket motor casing contained therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the container with the rocket casingcontained therein being towed from a land position to a body of water.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container with the rocket casing beingtowed into a flooded drydock.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the container with the rocket casing beingtransferred from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the container with the rocket casing resting inan upright position within the drydock which has been pumped dry.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the container with a mandrel being loweredwithin the rocket casing.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the container with a rocket propellant beingpoured within the rocket casing.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the container with the rocket motor beingheated and cured in place.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG.2 a cylindrical container 20 which contains a cylindrical rocket motorcasing 22. The container 20 is constructed of an outer tube 24 which isconcentrically positioned with respect to an inner tube 26 by annularpartitions 28, 30, 32 and 34,'the partitions 28 and 30 dividing thecontainer into ballast tank A, the annular partitions 32 and 34 dividingthe container into a ballast tank B, and the partitions 30 and 32dividing the container into a compartment C.

Integral with the outer tube 24 is a bottom end of the container whichincludes an ogive shaped bottom cap 36 and fins 38, the fins 38 beingintegral with respect to the cap 36. Four of the fins 38 (only two beingshown in FIG. 2) are to be employed with the fins being spaced from oneanother so that the container 20 can be rested on the fins 38 in anupright position. A removable ogive shaped lid 40 is employed for thetop end of the container 20 and is capable of making a watertight sealwith the outer tube 24 and retained in place by latches 42, the lid 40having an eye 44 integral therewith for towing purposes.

Fixedly attached to the inner side of the cap 36 is an annular platesupport 46 with circular openings .47 for supporting an annular platform48 via a bearing 50 so that the platform 48 is capable of rotating withrespect to the support 46. A motor 52 is rigidly mounted to the support46 and has an output shaft 54 which extends through the support 46 andis fixedly attached to the platform 48 so that when the rocket motorcasing 22 is resting on the platform 48 the motor 52, upon operation,will rotate the casing 22 about its longitudinal axis.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the inner tube 26 is recessed along its lengthinto the tanks A and B and compartment C to form an elongate platform 56which is to be capable of being co-planar with a land located platform58.

An elongate train 60 is employed for moving the rocket casing 22 or acompleted motor 61 having a propellant grain 62 from a horizontalposition on the platform 58 to a horizontal position on the platform 56,the train 60 having a length slightly less than the length of the tubes24 and 26. The train 60 is made up of four elongate spindles 63, 64, 66,and 68, these spindles being supported by an interconnection oflongitudinal bars and 72 with arms 74, 76, 78, and 82, all of these armsbeing integral with one another and having hubs appropriate for mountingthe spindles. Mounted on each of the spindles 63, 64, 66 and 68 are aseries of rollers, 84 and 86. Around each set of rollers 84 and 86 is abelt 88 which is capable of rolling with the rollers 84 and 86 andsupporting the rocket motor 61. The distance between the left roller 84and the right roller 84, the vertical distance between the rollers 84and the rollers 86 and the amount of sag in the belts 88 are to be suchthat the weight of the rocket motors 61 is to be taken up by the beltitself without the rocket motor 61 resting against any of the rollers 84or 86. Mounted on the longitudinal bar 70 is a motor 90 which isconnected to the spindle 63 in any suitable manner (such as chain andsprockets) for rotating the spindle 63, this in turn rotating all of thebelts 88. Accordingly, when the rocket motor 61 is resting on the belts88 the rocket motor can be rotated about its longitudinal axis when themotor 90 is in operation. Transverse the train 60 are a series ofspindles 92 and 94, these spindles 92 being fixed in place between thearms 74 and a series of arms 95 between the arms 76 and a series of arms96, the arms 95 and 96 being integral with arm 82. Mounted on eachspindle 92 are rollers 97 which are capable of rolling the rocket motor61 along either of the platforms 58 or 56.

Transverse the container 20 are a series of beams 98 which are mountedto a bottom-side of the platform 56 by a castor 99. Each beam 98 isjournalled for an axle 100, each axle 100 in turn rotatably supportingwheels 102.

Interposed in the ballast tanks A and B are trim tanks D and Erespectfully. The volume of the tanks A, B, D and E are to be such thatthe container with either the rocket casing 22 or the rocket motor 61disposed therein can be floated in a body of water. The tanks A, B, Dand E are to be of such a volume that upon individually ballasting thesetanks the container 20 with either the rocket casing 22 or the rocketmotor '61, can be oriented in either a horizontal position in the wateror an upright position in the water or any intermediate position. Thevalving and the pumps that are required for interconnecting the tanksare fully set forth in the co-pending application of Neubar Kamalian forWater- Borne Missile Launcher, Serial No. 155,215 filed November 27,1961, now Patent No. 3,135,162.

The tube 26 has along its length diametrically opposed recesses formingelevator shafts 104 for receiving inspection elevators 106. Accordingly,after casting and curing the rocket motor 61 within the container 20 inan upright position the platform 48 can be used to rotate the rocketmotor 61 while the elevators 104 take desired positions along the rocketmotor 61 for inspection purposes such as coin'tapping or X-raying therocket motor The inner tube 26 is to be spaced from the rocket casing 22to form an annular space 108 therebetween. Recessed in the wall of theinner tube 26 are a plurality of heater-blower combinations 110, each ofwhich extends substantially along the full length of the inner tube 26.An air conditioner 112 is mounted within the bottom cap 36 so as to becapable of constant temperature control of the entire container 20 andthe rocket motor 61 housed therein.

A plurality of retainers 114 and 115 are employed for retaining therocket casing 22 or the rocket motor 61 in place when horizontallypositioned within the container 20. Each retainer runs substantially thefull length of the inner tube 26 and has an elongate cradle 116 which isshaped to conform to the exterior of the rocket casing 22. The cradle116 is connected to an elongate piston 118 by a series of braces 120which extend through openings in the inner tube 26, the piston 118 beingcapable of reciprocating within a box 122 which extends substantiallythe full length of the inner tube 26. The inner tube 26 trapscompression springs 126 against the piston 118. Interposed between thepiston 118 and the box 122 is an elongate bladder 128 which uponinflation extends the cradle 116 against the rocket motor 61 and upondeflation allows the springs 126 to retract the cradle therefrom. An airhose 129 extends from the bladder 128 to the elevator shaft 104 forselectively inflating or deflating the bladder 128. The retainer 115 isidentical to the retainer 114.

An elongate angled plate 130 is fixed to the bottom of the braces 82 andinterposed between the plate 130 and the platform 56 is an elongateinflatable bag 131. An air hose 132 extends between the bag 131 and theelevator shaft 104 for selectively inflating or deflating the bag 131.Accordingly, the train 60 can also be used as a retainer along withretainers 114 and 115.

The construction of the rocket motor 61 within the container 20 is asfollows: The train 60 is fully withdrawn from the container 20 and isresting on the platform 58. The rocket casing 22 is placed on the train60 so as to rest directly on the belts 88. The train 60 is then rolledalong the platform 58 onto the platform 56 within the container 20 untilthe rocket casing 22 is completely housed within the container 20. Thisoperation is as substantially shown in FIG. 1 except the rocket casingdoes not have the propellant igrain 62 therein. Air is then insertedinto the bladders 128 and 131 so that the retainers 114 and the train 60will rigidly hold the rocket casing 22 in place within the container 20.The lid 40 is then placed on the container and is rigidly held in placeby latches 42 so as to make a watertight seal within the container.

The container 20 with the rocket casing 22 is then towed over land to abody of water after which a tug 133 tows the container 20 from a landposition to a water position via a sloping ramp 134 as shown in FIG. 4.The tanks A, B, D and E are empty upon the container 20 becomingwater-borne and the container will float in a horizontal position on thewater. The container 20 is then towed into a flooded drydock 136 asshown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, once the container 20 is within thedrydock 136 the towline from the tug 132 is released and the ballasttank B or E or both are flooded so as to cause the container 20 toassume an upright position on the pad 138. When the container 20 iseither hovering over the pad 138 or sunk to rest thereon the drydock 136is pumped dry of the water.

As shown in FIG. 7 the lid 40 is removed from the container by a crane140. A liner can then be placed within the empty motor case 22 andbonded thereto. After the liner is bonded to the motor case 22 and isinspected a mandrel 142 is lowered into the motor case 22 by the crane140, as shown in FIG. 8, the larger crosssection of the mandrel being atthe top or nozzle end of the rocket casing 22. A cap 143 is then sealedto the container 20 in place of the ogive lid 40 and a conduit 144 issealably insertde therethrough. Propellant is poured via the conduit 144into the motor case 22 around the mandrel 142 with the container eitherunder pressure or under a vacuum depending upon the desired method forcasting the propellant grain 62.

The conduit 144 is then withdrawn and the. cap 143 is sealed after whichthe blower-heaters 110 are started so as to apply heat to the motor case22. The heat is evenly distributed over the motor case 22 by rotatingthe rocket casing 22 with the propellant by the platform 48. Thepropellant grain 62 will receive a very even distribution of the heatafter it is conducted tothe grain by the rocket casing 22. This is acuring process of the propellant that will be applied for apredetermined period.

After the propellant is properly cured the blowerheaters 110 are turnedoif and the propellant and the container 20 are allowed to cool down toambient temperature. Thecap 143 is then removed and the mandrel iswithdrawn.

Inspection of the propellant grain 62 is carried out by the use ofcoin-tapping or X-ray techniques. The elevators 106 will be moved alongthe length of the motor case, 22 for inspecting the propellant grain.When one pass is completed, the rocket motor 61 is rotated to a nextsection and the elevator will make another pass. In this way the entireperiphery of the rocket motor 61 can be inspected. If both elevators 106carry out this operation the propellant grain .62 can be inspected byrotating the rocket motor .61 180. Alternatively, one elevator can carryout hte coin-tapping technique while the other elevator is takingX-rays. In this instance the rocket motor 61 must be rotated the full360, after which time the two inspection methods can be compared. Theliner previously referred to, is bonded to the rocket casing 22 by thesame method as that used for applying heat to the propellant grain 62.Further, the bonding of the liner is inspected in the same manner as thepropellant grain 62.

After inspection of the propellant grain 62 the lid 40 is replaced onthe tube 24 and sealed thereto and the completed rocket motor 61 isreturned to land in a substantially reverse procedure. as that explainedin FIGS. 4 through 7. Upon arriving at a land location and within aproper storage area the rocket motor 61 can be withdrawn from thecontainer 20 as shown in FIG. 1. At

an appropriate time, either before or after inspection, a nozzle closure(not shown). is mounted on the nozzle end of the rocket motor 61.

As an alternative procedure the rocket motor 61 could be inspected onland rather than in the drydock. Accordingly, after pouring the rocketpropellant and curing, the rocket motor could be returned to land andremoved from the container 20 as shown in FIG. 1 after which the rocketmotor can be rotated on the belts 88, once again employing thecoin-tapping and X-raying techniques.

It is to be noted that after the rocket motor 61 is thorouhgly inspectedand the nozzle enclosure installed,

the rocket motor can be transported via the container 2Q to any desiredlocation. This is accomplished by disposing the rocket motor 61 withinthe container 20, retaining it in place by use of retainers 114 and 115and the train 60, after which the rocket motor 61 can be towed overland, on the water or in a submerged condition through the water.Further, it is to be noted that liquid motors can be handled in a likemanner.

It is now readily apparent that the present invention solves many of theproblems encountered in the manufacture of large rocket motors. Sincethe rocket motor is not handled by cranes or derricks there will be noproblem of subjecting the rocket motor and especially the propellantgrain to undue strains or localized stress concentrations.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate. container configured to the general shape of said motorand capable of housing said motor therein and supporting the motor in ahorizontal position;

(b) moving means accommodated within said container for moving the motorin and out thereof when the container is horizontally disposed; and

(0) means in the container for turning the motor about a longitudinalaxis,

whereby fabrication of said motor can be facilitated.

2. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container configured to the general shape of said motorand capable of housing said motor therein and supporting the motor in ahorizontal position;

(b) moving means accommodated within said container for moving the motorin and out thereof when the container is horizontally disposed; and

(0) means mounted on the moving means for turning themotor about alongitudinal axis within said container,

whereby fabrication of said motor can be facilitated.

3. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container of a size capable of housing said motortherein and supporting the motor in a horizontal position;

(b) means for moving the motor in and out of said container when saidcontainer is horizontally disposed;

(c) means mounted on the moving means for turning the motor about alongitudinal axis within said container;

(d) said container having an inner surface which is spaced from themotor when said motor is disposed therein; and

(e) retractable means mounted adjacent said inner surface for retainingthe motor within the container when the container takes variouspositions and for releasing the motor when said motor is to be removedfrom the container by said moving means,

whereby fabrication of said motor can :be facilitated.

4. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container of a size capable of housing said motortherein and supporting the motor in a horizontal position;

(b) means for moving the motor in and out of said container when saidcontainer is horizontally disposed;

(c) means mounted on the moving means for turning the motor about alongitudinal axis within said container;

(d) said container having a bottom end which is capable of supportingthe container and the motor in an upright position; and

(e) rotating means mounted within the container capable of supportingthe motor from the bottom and rotating the motor about its longitudinalaxis,

whereby fabrication of said motor can be facilitated.

5. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container of a size capable of housing said motortherein and supporting the motor in a horizontal position;

(b) means for moving the, motor in and out of said container when saidcontainer is horizontally disposed;

(0) means mounted on the moving means for turning the motor about alongitudinal axis within said container;

(a') said container having a bottom end which is capable of supportingthe container and the motor in an upright position;

(e) rotating means mounted within the container capable of supportingthe motor from the bottom and rotating the motor about its longitudinalaxis, and

(1) means located within the container for applying heat to said motor,

whereby propellant within the motor can be evenly cured by rotating themotor and applying said heat thereto.

6. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container configured to the general shape of said motorand capable of housing said motor therein and supporting the motor in ahorizontal position;

(b) moving means accommodated within said container for moving the motorin and out thereof when the container is horizontally disposed;

(c) means mounted on the moving means for turning the motor about alongitudinal axis within said container; and

(d) said container being floatable with the motor therein in a body ofwater in any position between an upright position to a horizontalposition,

whereby fabrication of said motor can be facilitated.

7. A device for handling an elongate rocket motor comprising:

(a) an elongate container configured to the general shape of said motorand capable of housing said motor therein and supporting the motor in ahorizontal position;

(b) moving means accommodated within said container for moving the motorin and out thereof when the container is horizontally disposed;

() means mounted on the moving means for turning the motor about alongitudinal axis within said container;

(d) said container being fioatable with the motor therein in a body ofwater in any position between an upright position to a horizontalposition; and

(c) said container having wheels on a side thereof for rolling thecontainer from land into said body of water,

whereby fabrication of said motor can be facilitated.

8. A device for handling and fabricating an elongate cylindrical rocketmotor comprising:

(a) an elongate container of a size capable of housing said motortherein and supporting the motor in a horizontal position;

(b) means for moving the motor in and out of said container when saidcontainer is horizontally disposed;

(c) means mounted on the movable means for rolling the motor about itslongitudinal axis when the motor is disposed within said container;

(d) said container having an inner surface which is spaced from themotor when said motor is disposed therein;

(e) retractable means mounted adjacent said inner surface for retainingthe motor within the container when the container takes variouspositions and for releasing the motor when said motor is to be removedfrom the container by said movable means;

(f) said container having a bottom end which is capable of supportingthe container and the motor in an upright position;

(g) means mounted within the container and capable of supporting themotor from a bottom end for rotating the motor about its longitudinalaxis;

(/1) means located within the container for applying heat to said motorso that propellant within the motor can be evenly cured by rotating themotor and applying said heat there-to;

(i) said container having means for floating the container with themotor in a body of water in any position between an upright position toa horizontal position; and

(i) said container having wheels on a side thereof for rolling thecontainer from land into said body of Water.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO o. SCHULZ,Primary Examiner.

CARL D. QUARFORTH, Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR HANDLING AN ELONGATE ROCKET MOTOR COMPRISING: (A) ANELONGATE CONTAINER CONFIGURED TO THE GENERAL SHAPE OF SAID MOTOR ANDCAPABLE OF HOUSING SAID MOTOR THEREIN AND SUPPORTING THE MOTOR IN AHORIZONTAL POSITION; (B) MOVING MEANS ACCOMMODATED WITHIN SAID CONTAINERFOR MOVING THE MOTOR IN AND OUT THEREOF WHEN THE CONTAINER ISHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED; AND (C) MEANS IN THE CONTAINER FOR TURNING THEMOTOR ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, WHEREBY FABRICATION OF SAID MOTOR CANBE FACILITATED.